The College of Education will host the 2015 Education Summit "Necessary Connectedness: The New Edge of Education."

Join international, national and regional leaders in education to discuss current research, practices and policies relating to education in the 21st Century. The event is designed for educators, administrators, policy makers, community leaders, teacher preparation leaders, pre-service teachers and others with a direct link to education in Iowa and the nation. This year’s summit will host three strands: Literacy Education, S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education and Rural Education.

"Literacy, Leading and Learning: Integrating Inquiry, STEM, and the Common Core" is the theme of the 47th Annual Elementary Literacy Conference.

The conference will include multiple sessions on topics in the area of literacy, integrating inquiry, STEM and the Common Core. Featured speaker will be Steve Jenkins, author/illustrator, who has written and illustrated many nonfiction picture books for young readers including the Caldecott Honor winner What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? Many of his other well known favorites Time to Eat, The Animal Book and Eye to Eye will also be available for purchase and autographing by Jenkins during the conference. His books have been called stunning, eye-popping, inventive, gorgeous, masterful, extraordinary, playful, irresistible, compelling, engaging, accessible, glorious and informative.

A preconference event will take place at the Grout Museum/Bluedorn Science Imaginarium in Waterloo on Thursday, April 16. The preconference and conference events are sponsored by the College of Education, Bluedorn Science Imaginarium, Pioneer Graphics and Abrams Learning Trends. The conference is free for UNI students and faculty.

"Literacy, Leading and Learning: Integrating Inquiry, STEM, and the Common Core" is the theme of the 47th annual Elementary Literacy Conference.

The Grout Museum District’s Bluedorn Science Imaginarium will host a book signing with conference speaker Steve Jenkins and special after hours science demonstrations.

Find out why the hissing cockroaches hiss, pet a python and see how furry a giant tarantula really is. This demonstration is inspired by Jenkins’ The Animal Book and is guaranteed to fascinate and creep-out even the boldest of visitors. Refreshments will be provided.

The preconference and conference events are sponsored by the College of Education, Bluedorn Science Imaginarium, Pioneer Graphics and Abrams Learning Trends. The conference is free to UNI students and faculty.

The UNI College of Education will sponser a lecture featuring Jonathan Kozol, a known author on the experiences of children living in impoverished communities. He will share strategies for what we can do in classrooms and beyond to support the nation's poorest children. This event is in conjunction with the Education Summit being held May 1, 2015.

The Leader in Me Symposium is a two-day conference focused on instilling leadership as a vital component in education, and unleashing the greatness of every child. We invite you to unite with innovative leaders to find your voice and forever change the face of education. Registration is required.

The institute will educate, motivate, inform and transform. Speakers include: Paula Kluth, Darlene Hanson, Harvey Lavoy, Pascal Cheng Tracy Thresher and more. Kluth is a nationally recognized expert on autism and inclusive education. Her publications include: "You're Going to Love This Kid," "Don't We Already Do Inclusion" and many more. The institute is for individuals on the autism spectrum and with other developmental and communication disabilities; friends, allies, families; educators, therapists and support providers. College students and university faculty are welcome.